Eclipse sky show is grand finale to lessons, activities

Apr. 8—WEST MIDDLESEX — As the skies darkened and the temperature dropped, the elementary students' faces lit up with excitement when the solar eclipse passed over the West Middlesex school campus.

While the high school students dismissed early for the eclipse, the students at Oakview and Luther Low elementary schools spent the occasion outside with their teachers.

The eclipse could still be seen despite some clouds, causing the students to sometimes shout out not just how "cool" the eclipse was, but some of the facts they'd learned in class beforehand.

Among those students were fourth-graders Hank Stephens, John Lark and Jacob Smith, all of whom donned safety glasses when the eclipse emerged from behind the clouds.

"Probably the most important thing is to wear the glasses," John said, to which his two classmates agreed.

"We're not supposed to get another eclipse here for like another 90 years," Jacob added.

Fourth-grade teacher Mary Sue Thomas said a group of teachers including herself, fourth-grade teacher Hailey Hause and sixth-grade teacher Hollie Zinkham organized a series of activities leading up to the eclipse Monday.

These activities included a play entitled "The Eclipse Party," using double-stuffed Oreo cookies to represent different phases of the moon, participating in a digital eclipse-themed escape room, and having librarian Gaylynn Kuncio read books on the subject to the students.

"We wanted to have a variety of activities for the students," Thomas said. "They seemed to really enjoy them, but they were also learning about the eclipse and what it was."

While the students said the Oreo activity was among their favorites, Hank said his favorite was the digital escape room, where the students had to use Google Classroom and technology to find clues to unlock a phrase, among other phrases.

"It was neat because we learned about different parts of the eclipse, like what the totality is," Hank said, referring to the phase when the moon completely covers the sun.

Thanks to some family connections, fourth grade math and science teacher Brian Robich was also able to arrange a presentation for the students a couple weeks ago by meteorologist Jeff Oechslein with Channel 9 WTOV in Steubenville, Ohio.

Streaming from the studio, Oechslein gave the kids some background on the show and the expected weather for Monday, and answered some of the students' questions afterward, Robich said.

"It was cloudy, but it was still a success in my mind," Robich said after the eclipse. "This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these kids."

Like David L. Dye on Facebook or email him at ddye@sharonherald.com.